Materials handling apparatus



5, 1965 K. w. TANTLINGER 3,210, 13

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United States Patent 3,210,113 MATERIALS HANDLING APPARATUS Keith W. Tantliuger, Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich, assignor to Fruehauf Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Filed May 9, 1963, Ser. No. 279,223 1 Claim. (Cl. 294-81) This application relates generally to materials handling apparatus and more particularly to an improved spreader bar and complementary shipping container.

The increased use of modular shipping containers has created the need for an improved materials handling apparatus comprising the combination of a spreader bar capable of handling complementary shipping containers, for example, .a single relatively large shipping container, or, alternatively, a number of relatively smaller shipping containers grouped together to form a composite assembly having one dimension equal to a modular dimension of the relatively large shipping container.

This problem is solved, by the materials handling apparatus of the instant invention, by a spreader bar having provision for engagement with complementary side rails on the modular shipping containers. The shipping containers are constructed so as to have like laterial dimension, engagement of the spreader bar therewith being independent of the longitudinal dimensions of the shipping containers.

Another desirable attribute of a spreader bar for handling modular shipping containers is that hte spreader bar be engageable with the shipping containers without requiring a manually operated latch or the like. Further, after coupling of the spreader bar to the shipping containers, it is desirable that the weight of the shipping container be utilized to retain the spreader bar and shipping container in the coupled condition.

The spreader bar of the instant invention provides fol? automatic coupling to a modular shipping container by utilizing a pair of novel downwardly depending hooks that are biased apart upon movement of the spreader bar downwardly relative to the shipping container, thence returned to a coupling condition due to gravity. The coupling hooks are positively retained in the coupled condition with the shipping container due to the angle of the mating surfaces thereon which are engageable with complementary surfaces on the shipping container.

Accordingly, one object of the instant invention is an improved materials handling apparatus comprising a spreader bar and complementary shipping container.

Another obpect is a spreader bar capable of handling a plurality of longitudinaly aligned shipping containers in dependently of the aggregate length thereof.

Another object of the instant invention is a spreader bar that is automatically engageable with a ship ping container.

Another object is a spreader bar that is retained in the coupled condition with a shipping container due to the weight of the shipping container.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following specification, claims and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spreader bar in accordance with the instant invention shown in operative association with a plurality of aligned modular shipping containers; .and

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantially in the direction of the arrow 2 of FIG, 1.

As best seen in FIG. 1, a spreader bar 8 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention is shown in the ready-to-couple condition relative to a plurality of aligned modular shipping containers 10. The

3,210,113 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 spreader bar 8 comprises a generally rectangular frame 12 defined by a pair of spaced longitudinal members 14 and 16 with laterally extending members 18 and 20 therebetween. A pluradity of downwardly depending cables 22, 2'4, 26 and 28 are coupled to the longitudinal members 14 and 1 6 as by suitable clevises 30, 32, 34 and 36, respectively. The cables 22, 24, 26 and 28 are attached to a loop 40 adapted to be engaged by a conventional hook .42 which depends from a crane or the like (not shown).

In accordance with the present invention, complementary pairs of elongated downwardly depending hook bars 50-52 and 54-56 are pivotally coupled to each of the longitudinally extending frame members 14 and 16 as by a pair of continuous rods 58 and 60, respectively. The book bars 50-52 and 54-56 are of like constructlon except for right and left-hand orientation. Accordingly, only the hook bars 45-56 associating with the frame member 14 will be discussed in detail for the purpose of clarity.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the rod 60 for the support of the hook bars 54 and 56 is supported in a plurality of downwardly depending flanges 62 on the frame member 14. The flanges 62 and the hook bars 54 and 56 have complementary aligned bores for the acceptance of the rod 60, one of which is shown and designated by the numeral 64. The hook bars 54 and 56 have reentran-tly folded lower end portions 66 and 68 with angularly upwardly extending container-engaging surfaces 70 and 72, thereon, respectively.

The hook bars 54 and 56 are engageable with a complementary spear-shaped side rail on each container 10. The side rail 80 has angularly upwardly extending top surf-aces 82 and 84 and angularly upwardly extending lower surfaces 86 and 88 complementary to the surfaces 70 and 72 on the hook bars 54 and 56, respectively. The spear-shaped portion 80 of the container 10 is spaced upwardly from a ledge 90 thereon by a flange portion 92 so as to provide adequate clearance for the hook bars 54 and 56 upon movement thereof downwardly relative to the shipping container '10.

As the hook bars 54 and 56 move downwardly over the rail portion 80, they are biased outwardly due to engagement with the top surfaces 82 and 84 thereof. Upon passage of the hook bars 54 and 56 downwardly beyond the bottom surfaces 86 and 88 on the rail 80, the hook bars 54 and 56 move together due to gravity, where upon the engaging surfaces 70 and 72 on the hook bars 54 and 56 are vertically aligned with the surfaces 86* and 88 on the rail 8t Elevation of the spreader bar 8 relative to the shipping container 10 effects engagement of the engaging surfaces '70 and 72 on the hook bars 54 and 56 with the bottom surfaces 86 and 88 on the rail 80, the angular orientation thereof relative to the vertical load vector tending to bias the hook bars 54 and 5'6 toward one another and maintaining them in engagement with the top rail 80.

As best seen in FIG. 1, a plurality of air-actuated hook bar control cylinders 94, 96, 98 and 100 may be provided to bias the hook bars 50-52 and 54-56 apart to affect disengagement with the container 10.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that the spreader bar of the instant invention accommodates a plurality of aligned shipping containers independently of the longitudinal length thereof. The spreader bar is automatically engageable with the shipping containers upon movement thereof toward the containers, which engagement is maintained due to weight of the containers when the load thereof is supported by the spreader bar.

It is to be understood that the specific construction of the improved materials handling appanatus herein disclosed and described is presented for the purpose of explanation and illustration, and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claim.

What is claimed is: Materials handling apparatus comprising a shipping container having a pair of spaced elongated parallel rails along opposite upper edges thereof, each of said rails having a generally spear-shaped vertical cross section defined by an upstanding flange with an enlarged head portion having upwardly convergent top and bottom surfaces, and a spreader bar comprising a substantially rigid generally rectangular frame having spaced pairs of elongated opposed downwardly extending hook bars along substantially the entire length of the opposite sides thereof, said [hook bars having a common pivotal connection comprising an elongated rod, said rod being supported at spaced intervals by downwardly extending flanges on the sides of said frame, each of said hook bars being freely pivotally connected to a complementary hook bar and to said spread-er bar, respectively, said hook bars having reentrantly upwardly directed lower end portions, respectively, for engagement with the bottom surfaces on the enlarged head portion of the rails of the shipping container, said hook bars being pivotabl-e, respectively, to an open condition upon engagement with the top surface of the rails on the shipping container, said hook bars being movable towards each other due to gravity to condition said spreader bar for lifting the shipping container, said hook bars being retained in the engaged condition with said rails due to the weight of the shipping container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 799,795 9/05 Mathieu 29467 X 1,049,839 1/13 Fraser 294-81 X 20 1,509,400 9/24- Fitch 29467 X 3,106,421 10/ 63 Wyrou-gh 29483 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST A. FALLER, Examiner. 

